Expansible pulley.



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No. 896,267. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1968. a. F. BENJAMIN.

EXPANSIBLE PULLEY. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1908.

2/95 tn eases No. 896,267. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908. G. F. BENJAMIN.

EXPANSIBLE PULLEY.

APPLICATION FILED MAB-.11, 1908.

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APPLIGATION FILED MAR-ll, 1908. Y

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If NI I PATENTED AUG. 18, 19 08.

Salvation UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AF CLARENCE F. BENJAMIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

, EXPANSIB LE PULLEY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE F. BENJA- MIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expansible Pulleys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to expansible pulleys, the object being to provide a pulley which is so constructed that the diameter of the same may be increased or decreased when the same is in operation, so as to increase or diminish the speed.

Another object of my invention is to provide very novel means for operating the segmental rim sections of the pulley, so that they will be expanded in succession as they come between the belt, whereby the disadvantages heretofore existing of expanding the pulley in operation is overcome, as the section is expanded when pressure is relievec from the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide very novel means for operating the sections, so that when expanded they will be held rigidly, so as to resist the pressure of the belt.

Another object of my invention is to provide very novel means for locking the sections in their adjusted positions.

A further object of my invention is to connect springs to the arms carrying the segments so that when the operating means is thrown out of engagement with the same, the arms will be drawn inwardly.

A still further object of my invention is to provide operating means which is automatic in operation, and so arranged in respect to the pulley, that the sections will be forced outwardly at the right time, and after all the sections have been forced outwardly, the

locking means will be thrown into engagement with the operating wedges, so as to lock them in their adjusted positions.

These objects are attained by the novel arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter fully described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a side elevational view of my improved pulley partly broken away to show the operating means. Fig. 2, is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. '1. Fig. 3, is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig.

4, is a perspective view of one of the arms Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1908.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Serial No. 420,295.

are plates D, which carry segmental rim 7 sections E forming the periphery of the pulley. Each plate D is secured to the rim section by ascrew E which extends into a central boss D formed on the plate. This holds the sections rigidly together. The inner ends of the arms C, are on an incline or angled to the side edges, and the ends of the arms are beveled as at C and thus adapted to fit in the V-shaped grooves F formed in the inclined faces of the expanding wedges F. These expanding wedges are shown separately in Fig. 5. They are mounted radially to the shaft A and, at their pointed ends, extend through openings in the wheel B. At their outer ends they are provided with projecting shanks F which enter within a sleeve G surrounding the same. This sleeve is provided with interior longitudinal radial grooves to receive the shanks, each groove communicating with a radial notch G formed in one end of thesleeve, and adapted to fit over the wedges F, as will be hereinafter fully described.

The inner edges of the wedges are concaved so as to fit snugly around the shaft, and the ends of the shanks F are provided with dovetail shaped tongues F over which are secured dovetail grooved curved plates H, having beveled faces II, which are adapted to be engaged by a roller I, mounted in a hub K, which is loosely mounted on'the shaft A.

Curved platesv L, are countersunk in the rim of the wheel B, over the ends of the grooves, and are provided With inwardly projecting portions which fit in the grooves and form stops for the arms 0. Secured to the face of the wheel B, are screws M, to which are connected coil springs M, the free ends of which are connected to the arms C, for returning the sections after they have been expanded.

The sleeve G, is provided with an exterior annular groove in which is loosely mounted a sectional sleeve N, provided with oppositely disposed pins N, carrying anti-friction rollers, over which the bifurcated ends of a forked arm 0, are adapted to fit, which is carried by an operating bell-crank lever O, pivotally mounted on a stud pin 0 which is secured to a suitable support (not shown).

Pivotally mounted on the operating lever O, is a forked arm P, the ends of which are bifurcated as shown at P, between which the oppositely disposed pins Q, extend, which are carried by the hub K, the pins being provided with anti-friction rollers. Fixed to the arm P, is an arm R, which extends parallel to the operating lever O,-and is connected to the bifurcated end of an operating rod S, through which the operating lever 0, extends. The operating rod S, is provided with a spring actuated plunger S, which engages the operating lever, so that when the rod S, is operated, the arm will be swung on its pivot, so as to bring the roller into engagement with the inclined faces of the grooved plates H. This roller is so located that as the respective rim sections are brought around into the space between the return portions of the belt, they will be expanded, and it will be seen that the sections are expanded when pressure is relieved from the same. After the sections are all forced out into an expanded osition, the

arm 0, will force the sleeve G orwardly, so 1 as to lock the wedges in their adjusted position.

The operation of the device is as follows 3 Supposing the pulley to be in a closed posi- 1 tion, and it is desired to expand the same, 1 the rod S, is forced u wardly which will} o crate the bell-crank ever R, P, and the s eeve K. The forward movement of the sleeve K thus brings the roller I successively i into engagement with the beveled faces of' the curved plates carried by the shanks of the wedges, so that the segmental rim sections will be forced successively outward, oneat a time, as they come to the space between thebelt. As further pressure is applied on the operating rod S, the arm 0, wil move the sleeve G, forward, so as to bring the notches G of the same over the wedges F, which will securely lock the seg mental sections in their adjusted position. It will be seen as the wedges are forced forwardly they contact'with the edges of the segment arms and move the segmental seetions outward, thus increasing the diameter of the pulley. It will also be seen that by controlling the movement of the operating rod S, the diameter of the pulley can be regulated. By simply pulling on the oper atlng rod the'diameter of the ulley can be decreased as the sleeve G, wi be brought into engagement with the curved plates of the shanks of'the wedges, so as to bring the wedges back into their normal position, and the springs will return the arms carrying the segmental rim sections.

' From the'foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided an expansible pulley which is constructed-of a very few parts which are so arranged and connected together that they are not likely to get out of order in operation.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z 1. In an expansible pulley, a series of ra-.

wedges, and to contact successively with them to force said wedges and the arms outward.

3. The combination with a wheel, of arms slidably mounted in the face of said Wheel,- wedges engaging said arms and means for operating said wedges in succession.

4. In an expansible pulley the combination with a wheel provided. with a grooved face, of spring actuated arms mounted in said grooves carrying segmental rim sections, wedges engaging said arms, means for operating said wedges successively, and means for locking said wedges after they have been operated.

5. The combination with a wheel provided with grooves in its face crossing each other at right angles, of arms mounted in said grooves carrying segmental rim sections, wedges engaging the inner ends of said arms, meansfor operating said wedges in succession, and means for locking said wedges.

6. The combination with a wheel having dovetail grooves formed in its face, of spring actuated arms provided with dovetail heads mounted in said grooves having angled inner ends, segmental rim sections connected to the outer ends of said arms, wedges engaging the its i 'io inner ends of said arms, means for operating said wedges in succession, and a notched sleeve for locking said wedges.

7. The combination with a wheel provided with a radially grooved face, of spring actuated arms mounted in said grooves having angled inner ends, segmental rim sections secured to the outer ends of said arms, wedges engaging the angled ends of said arms provided with shanks carrying plates having beveled faces, and a roller adapted to engage said plates, for the purpose described.

8. The combination with a shaft and a wheel carried thereon having radial grooves in its face, of spring retracted arms mounted in said grooves carrying segmental rim sections, Wedges forengaging said arms provided with shanks, means for forcing said wedges against the rim carrying arms, a locking sleeve surrounding the shanks of the wedges, and means for operating said wedges and sleeve.

9. In an expansible pulley, the combination with a wheel provided with slidably mounted arms, of segmental rim sections carried by said arms, wedges for operating said arms, means for operating said wedges, and a sleeve for locking and releasing said wedges.

10. The combination with a shaft, and a wheel fixed thereon, of spring retracted arms slidably mounted on the face of said wheel, segmental rim sections carried by said arms, wedges engaging said arms provided with shanks, a sleeve surrounding said shanks provided with notches adapted to receive said wedges, bevel face plates carried by said shanks, a hub mounted on said shaft, a roller mounted on said hub adapted to engage said plates, and means for operating said hub and sleeve.

11. The combination with a shaft and a fixed wheel mounted thereon, of arms slid ably mounted on said wheel carrying segmental rim sections, springs connecting said arms to said wheel, wedges engaging said arms provided with shanks, a sleeve surrounding said wedges, bevel face plates secured to said shanks, a hub loosely mounted on said shaft, a roller mounted on said hub, means for forcing said roller in the path of said plates together with means for forcing said sleeve into engagement with said wedges.

12. The combination with a shaft, of a wheel fixed to said shaft provided with dovetail grooves crossing each other at right angles, arms provided with dovetail heads slidably mounted in said grooves, stops secured in the ends of the grooves, said arms being provided with angle inner ends provided with V-shape tongues, segmental rim sections carried by plates secured to the outer ends of said arms, springs connecting said arms to said wheel, wedges provided with V-shape grooves adapted to receive the tongues of said arms, said wedges being provided with shanks, a sleeve surrounding said shanks provided with notches adapted to receive said wedges, means for forcing said wedges outwardly in succession, together with means for forcing said sleeve into engagement with said wedges.

13; An expansible pulley comprising a wheel adapted to be secured to a shaft having dovetail radial grooves formed in its face, arms provided with dovetail heads mounted in said grooves, the inner ends of said arms being angled and provided with V-shape tongues, segmental rim sections carried by the outer ends of said arms, wedges provided with V-shape grooves in their inclined faces fitting over the tongues of the arms, said wedges being provided with shanks having dovetail tongues at their ends, dovetail grooved plates secured over said dovetail tongues, a sleeve provided with longitudinal grooves arranged on said shanks, said shanks fitting in said grooves, said sleeve being pro vided with notches to receive said wedges, a hub loosely mounted on the shaft, a roller carried by said hub, and means for throwing said roller in the path of said beveled plates togetherwith means for throwing said sleeve into engagement with said wedges.

14. The combination with a wheel, of spring retracted segmental rim sections, wedges for operating said sections provided with shanks, a sleeve arranged over said shanks having an annular groove, a sectional sleeve mounted in said groove provided with pins, a hub mounted on the shaft, a roller carried by said hub, outwardly projecting pins on said hub and forked bifurcated arms engaging with said pins together with means for operating: said arms, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. CLARENCE F. BENJAMIN.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN H. BENJAMIN, MARY E. BENJAMIN. 

